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I've got a case of Entrepreneur Syndrome: I'm afraid to give up
control and I want to do everything myself. I want to answer the
e-mails, buy the office supplies and pay the bills.

But there are only so many hours in the day. And it's often
better for my finances if I focus on the things that actually
make me money and pay somebody else to do various chores. (When I
first paid to have my taxes prepared, I was shocked at how much
money I saved.)

Over the past decade, I've come to rely on my "personal finance
team," a small group of professionals who advise me on business
and personal financial decisions.

My team includes an accountant, an attorney, a financial planner
and a personal mentor. I don't just trust these folks to give me
business advice; I also count on them to help me navigate my
personal financial affairs. Without them, I'd be lost.

Of course, there can be glitches in building a team. "The first
time I hired a bookkeeper, it was with the attitude that I just
wanted somebody to take care of things for me," says Mark Silver,
founder of Portland, Ore.-based consultancy Heart of Business.
"But we got to the end of the year and the records were a mess. I
had to hire a second bookkeeper to clean it all up. I had to pay
for the work twice."

To put together a strong team of advisers, try these tips:

Evaluate your needs. Your team might include a
banker, stockbroker, accountant or insurance agent. When you
know your strengths, you can figure out where you need help
with the weaknesses.

Trust your gut. Sabino Arredondo, a CPA and
partner at Oregon-based Wilcox Arredondo, recommends hiring
people with whom you feel a connection. "Ask yourself how easy
it is to talk with the person," Arredondo says. "If it's easy
to talk to them about everyday matters--sports, family, the
economy--you'll find it's easier to talk about business."

Find someone who thinks like a business owner.
"I try to hire people who are going to look out for my
business," Silver says, "not people who are just waiting for me
to tell them what to do." Often you won't know what needs to be
done next. It's valuable to work with folks who can help you
avoid potential pitfalls rather than people who are just there
to help you recover from mistakes.

Don't fear change. If a member of your
financial team isn't working out, make a substitution. "There's
pressure to find the right person," Silver says. "But it's hard
to do that when you don't know what you're looking for. You
might have to try a few people before you find the right one."

Finally, remember that nobody cares more about your money than
you do. Your advisors may do great work for you, and some may
even have a legal obligation to look out for your best interests,
but ultimately you are the most important member of your
team.